The Assessment Only (AO) route is for unqualified teachers who have been in a teaching role for at least two years. It allows experienced and capable teachers to gain formal recognition through Qualified Teacher Status (QTS).

Achieving QTS opens up new opportunities, professionally and financially.

The programme fits around your current role. All observations and assessments take place in your school.

A teacher reading with pupils outside
A teacher leaning across a desk

Process at a glance

1. Application and eligibility check

2. Initial visit and creation of AO training plan

3. Compilation of portfolio

4. Final assessment by University of Reading assessor.

Learn more about the AO route structure, including the role of the mentor and what happens next

A woman working at her laptop

Your application

Fill in our application form as fully as you can. Particularly important are:

  • how long you have taught for and where
  • the subject(s) you teach if applying for the secondary age range
  • evidence of your qualifications
  • the main age ranges of your teaching
  • information about your mentor’s experience in the role
  • the agreement of your school/setting to support you in working towards QTS.

If you have questions about the application process, please contact us.

Eligibility

To be eligible you must:

  • be employed in and supported by a school/setting
  • be working within the appropriate curriculum frameworks (such as EYFS, National Curriculum, GCSE syllabus content)
  • hold the appropriate academic qualifications (degree and GCSE Grade 4 or equivalent in English and Mathematics (and science if primary)

See our full eligibility criteria checklist

If you cannot demonstrate the required GCSE subjects and levels, you may need to pass an Equivalence Test. We offer these in English and mathematics. Contact equivalencytesting@reading.ac.uk for further details.

You may also wish to visit Equivalency Testing or A Star Teachers.

A teaching resource room in the Institute of Education

School experience

To gain QTS, you must have taught in at least two schools. This experience may be from:

  • a nursery setting
  • a maintained school or non-maintained school
  • an academy
  • a private or independent school
  • a further education institution or sixth form college
  • a Pupil Referral Unit
  • special school.
Two schoolchildren at a desk

Specifying your age phase

You will need to specify your age phase:

  • Ages 3–7 (primary)
  • Ages 5–11 (primary)
  • Ages 11–16 (secondary)
  • Ages 11–18 (secondary).

Typically, primary assessment will take place across the 3–7, 5–11, or 7–11 age ranges.

Secondary assessment will typically take place across the 11–16 or 14–18 age ranges.

You should include evidence such as testimonials in your application.

Fees

The total fee for Assessment Only (as of 1 September 2026) is £2,500.

This fee is to be paid to the University of Reading in two instalments. The first instalment of £1,750 is issued after the lesson observation assessment and £750 is invoiced following the final assessment interview.

Please note that the charges are due at the point the assessments are undertaken regardless of the outcome.

The fee covers:

  • first assessment interview (online)
  • lesson observation assessment (face to face)
  • final assessment interview (online)
  • associated assessment and support.

The visits can be face to face and/or virtual, as agreed by the University assessor and your school/setting.

For those schools/settings who are beyond 25 miles of RG1 5EX, there is an additional charge per visit:

  • 26-50 miles – £100
  • 51-75 miles – £200
  • 75 miles+ – cost on request.

Fundamental skills

The University of Reading and the partnership school assess the English and mathematics knowledge of the Assessment Only teacher before QTS is awarded.

This will form part of the portfolio.

Learn more about the AO route